slomove

I have a 2.3l AFFF suppression system installed with one nozzle aimed at the intake manifold and another nozzle aimed at the gap between rear bulkhead and the fuel cell. The bottle is in front of the passenger seat out of the way under the knees and the pull-handle in the dashboard. Will it help in case something goes wrong, I don't know. But it is not that expensive and difficult to install and I thought it is reasonable insurance after my first rear-ender in 2003. I don't go to the track anymore but get the feeling this is anyway more likely on the road. I had another rear-ender accident in 2012 but fortunately did not need to activate the fire system. In that case my luggage rack with clothes duffles hanging off the rear end cushioned the impact. The fact that it was another Seven hitting me at speed and not an F150 may have helped.....

I usually lift the rear of the car as far up as I can with a jack after draining all oil and working on the sump. That way the oil sloshes forward and makes priming of the dry oil pump go much faster.

I read the same but have a look if compression was increased or high lift cams installed. That may change things. I had the belt go on a Mitsubishi Galant after 6 years and maybe 50k miles (and the engine parts interfered very much). Means it does happen. At 12 years mostly sitting the replacement should be a no-brainer. I really like Breezy's method. I will keep that in mind for next time I have to work on that.

Easy to do in place (after removing all the cover plastic junk). If you use the cam timing lock bar to hold the cams in place (got to take the valve cover off, anyway) while changing you *may* be able to do without re-adjusting the timing. But if you do that the first time be prepared something will slip or jump a cog. But if you have stock cams, the lock bar tool (and the TDC end stop screw) should make it easy enough to get right.

No firm plans yet, but we are wondering about a 2 week trip next June or July to Montana, Northern Idaho and maybe a short trip across the border, e.g. the International Selkirk Loop. Probably tow up 2 days to Pocatello or Twin Falls and drive from there. We usually do 150-300 mile day segments with an occasional rest day. So, if you want to go with another Seven, let me know. For that matter, if anybody is interested, send me a PM. If I hear from somebody I may start a separate thread. But we will go in any case. Don't want to compete with the Polar Bear Blat tour but I can not go at that time and that long.

The aluminum powder should make a good anti-seize additive to the bearing grease :smilielol5:

Just happened to buy a set of R1R in your sizes from Tire Rack, see invoice clip below. Not sure if there is much difference between 195/45 and 195/50. I also had T1R and while rather good in the rain and quiet I agree they sometimes just made the steering wheel vibrate, no matter how balanced. Maybe what Skip said they got flat spotted after sitting a while. After that I switched to Bridgestone RE11. No good in rain, otherwise O.K. but did not last long. Let's see how the R1R are, never tried them. ---------------------- Order Date: 12/15/2014 Via: UPS Ground From: McCarran, NV http://www.tirerack.com/images/cart/tabs/tab_products_ordered.gif Qty 2 195/50R-15 Toyo Proxes R1R $117.00 --> $234.00 2 205/50R-15 Toyo Proxes R1R $123.00 --> $246.00 Shipping: $61.48 Order Total Including Shipping: $541.48

Naah, I have a '98 Birkin S3 (live axle) with 200/325 lbs springs, Protech shocks and find the ride pretty comfy (new seats, though). I have some 50,000+ road miles on the clock with six multi-week vacation trips. It is not a Mercedes but no problem driving all day. I am 5'10" and 190 lbs. I could probably gain another 10 or 20 pounds and still fit but beyond that it may become a problem. Narrow driving shoes recommended.

I know Magnus Feuer (administrator of the California Caterham Club web forum) had the same thing with his SV of similar vintage. Might have been a manufacturing flaw, maybe insufficient etching of the aluminum.

I got rear-ended twice. Once in 2003 and I had the other driver's insurance pay for it. It was a pain in the butt. I took it to a reputable race car guy (although specialized on Sunbeam Tigers) who had fixed a mangled Caterham before. It took forever (maybe 3 months) and he used too thin aluminum that ended up wavy. Total was about 4000 bucks IIRC with new tank, fenders and some painting. Then I had one in 2012 where a fellow Sevener hit me in the rear quarters. I opted to fix it myself since I felt kind of partially responsible for leading recklessly. That was not a big deal at all and took maybe 80 bucks in aluminum sheet and 2 or 3 days of work. But at least I got it right and used the opportunity to strengthen the rear end a bit. More info here If the other driver was insured and you know somebody who can fix it professionally, no-brainer.

Honestly, I don't know what the alternative is. But I guess we need one. And I kind of feel bad that I am personally contributing to the problem. As Operations Manager it is MY job to save cost and make the company more profitable and accordingly we put in some automation (mechanical/handling, or or just more computerized functions) as well as just better and more effective processes that reduces labor in all areas. The company (electromechanical measurement equipment) has doubled in output since the 90s but still the same number of employees. At least we are still in the US and did not move offshore. The call for better education, while essential for the country , may help but will not solve the problem of making people redundant. Some people just don't have it to be an engineer or any other of the fabulous new technology jobs without their own fault or being lazy. Some of the people whose jobs are lost may have the smarts but are too old to be employable after a career change (say...40). I am not talking about the people who beat the odds but the majority. So, if there is nothing left for them to work what are they supposed to do? Obviously they could start a criminal career or go on welfare or shoot themselves. And guess what, that is what you can see happening. For the rest of the simpler work that is still done by humans, the market price drops to below a minimum to exist and since we don't usually let people starve, these folks need public assistance, too. As mentioned in the beginning, I have no clue how to fix this. But I see a growing problem that we undo all the improvements of fairness and equitability of the last 100 years.

Wouldn't it be more practical pointed forward and mounted within reach?

I have been to the TOD last July (in a lame rental, though) and was underwhelmed. beautiful road and probably fun when empty but at that time of the year it was a crawl even in that rental. As for the road maybe think Angeles Crest with trees left and right and everything green, about as curvy but more undulating camber. Less agricultural than Caliente Bodfish and much more curvy than Bouquet. As far as California goes I would prefer the stretch of any time. Many more curves than anything else I have driven, maybe except Old Hopland Grade (links to 2 clips from a motorcycle perspective, but close enought).

I agree it is troubling. But keep in mind that many members of immigrant communities (especially older ones and female) are very isolated in their new country, don't speak the language, have anyway different values, don't believe the same media outlets as we (sometimes) do and probably hear a different story about ISIS from agitators. I am not surprised that many of them voice support since they may not hear or believe the Western side. It is a huge integration problem and the policies of the past have failed IMO. In Germany the majority of Muslims is Turkish vs. Pakistani/Indian in England and Arabic/North African in France. That and the different percentages of the population may account for the differences.

Are you nuts? You will put hundreds of thousands of lawyers out of work and destroy the ecomony:rofl: Who will be left to buy new Sevens for a ton of money and sell them used for a pittance?

There may be something to it, at least with the Quaiffe stylle diffs. I had an event at the Infineon (back then) track in heavy rain with mud splattered all over the pavement that a (so far) reasonable corner turned into an immediate spin when one of the rear wheels hit a mud spot. I believe when the LSD loses traction on one wheel it will apply double torque on the other wheel to make up and in the wet that will lead to a complete loss of traction. Well, at least this is my theory. Could be lack of driving skills as well :smilielol5: Don't agree completely. It is just another insurance level. While the risk of collision/fire may be much higher on track I installed a foam type extinguisher with nozzles covering the throttle bodies and the tank area after I had a fuel leak dripping onto the alternator. Nothing happened but I thought maybe not a bad idea.

Interesting chart, have not seen it in that form but not really what I meant. Of course I was talking of the good old USA. Disclaimer: I believe most people here would count me as liberal of European descent, sorry about that. But it is not that easy, I am with the reviled Tea Party on issues like deficit and debt. I pay me credit card bills in full every time and I think the government should do the same. There can of course be some discussion how fast we can stop the madness and start paying back without screwing up everything. That would surely include major cutbacks and tax increases that will hurt. But what I meant is the growing inequity how wealth is distributed (as mentioned in the video). There is nothing natural about that and it is surely not related to the stellar performance of the "rich" other than bending over and have the political class lick their behind (any party). There is some kind of parasitic quality to this and it does lead to a race to the bottom as mentioned earlier. I may also be a romantic not believing in unbridled free trade. It sounds great that we all can gorge on cheap stuff from China and Vietnam. But besides the (for me) unsettling fact that we don't produce much consumer/quantity goods anymore with related job losses, the piled up trade deficit will come to haunt the US in the future. I do not like that more and more assets are owned by foreign owners who need to do something with the dollars they get for all the junk. As a country it is comparable the homeowner who takes more and more mortgages to finance big cars and vacations just to end up in foreclosure. But who am I to worry. I buy that stuff as well.

Well, Jerry. With the word 'drivel' you started the flaming. I don't agree with everything that was written here but so far this was a pretty civilized discussion. Not much drivel that I could see. The other thing that kind of disqualifies your opinion is bringing up the constitution and soldiers. I appreciate the wisdom of the people who wrote that and the sacrifice of soldiers but WTF does that have to do with employment issues? You can have the best constitution and a fabulous military and still suck your employees dry (or pamper them to no end). So, sorry that was kind of drivel IMO. The OP reported frustration from a situation in an industry I don't know much of. I am working as Operations Manager in electronics manufacturing and it is not as bad there. I most similar companies I know of employees are reasonably, sometimes well paid (I know, all relative) and well treated. That said, when interviewing new manufacturing engineers lately we had a few applicants who were still losing their jobs because their company is moving to Mexico or China. I read somewhere this tide was turning but then, maybe not. I think these are all valid points. I admit I am right now on the winning side, but I believe the ongoing turbo-capitalism is going to ruin this country.

Same here for my Birkin. But I riveted a 1x1" right angle aluminum profile in a convenient position across the footwell to the floor sheet to give the heels something to hold on to. It does not prevent me from stretching my clutch leg under the pedal but makes long trips a bit more relaxing.

Why use a gasket anyway? There is nothing behind the dash that would not get wet from below if you have really water mist wafting all over (e.g. driving behind a big rig in heavy rain). It never occurred to me that I should use a gasket when I made my dash. If you really think you need it I would consider a tiny bead of RTV.

I know 3-1/8" and 3-3/8" gages as well as 4" but have not seen 3.5" . You could jury rig one for the rally? If it is any consolence my VDO speedo (electronic sender) packed up a while ago, when speed display and odometer could not be calibrated the same way anymore. New speedo, problem solved.

I use anti-seize but only if I see the thread is "dry". And if I put on new anti-seize I wipe off whatever is left of the previous application. I don't want to contaminate and short out the tip with excess goop. For that matter it should be used sparingly, anyway. I still have a tube of copper based anti-seize that I bought when I lived in Germany some 35 years ago. It will probably survive me. I never found much difference between removing/installing hot or cold. I just torque to 15 ft-lbs. It stays put and is still easy enough to remove. If the plug is corroded in place it is anyway too late for anti-seize but then it may indeed be easier to remove hot or maybe after some liquid wrench soaking.

I believe the cutoff for the Ford Contour was March '98. Before that they used a slightly modified European Mondeo Zetec (often referred to as Zx1) that I have. Aluminum silvertop valve cover, no VCT, hydraulic tappets. You can buy Kent Cam FZ2001, FZ2002, or FZ2003 from Burton Power in the UK. I have the FZ2002 and with some 1:10.7 head skim. porting and ITB the engine makes 170+ hp measured on a chassis dyno at the wheels. This is about same level as an SVT engine with ITB was measured the same day. You can recognize the engine block by the dead centered water pump pulley. After March 98 Ford used the ZX2 with VCT for short time and later the Focus engine ZX3 but I have no idea what performance options are available there.

Thanks Tom, maybe I should have had that advice a few weeks ago. Now it is installed and hope it will work. My engine is mildly tuned and not that hot. For that matter, it is the gasket brand that I used to have before and that was recommended by the original engine builder. I think he mentioned it is a little thicker than the usual US replacement parts. I read also that Victor Reinz was one of the Ford OEM suppliers for the old Mondeo. But maybe that is all just unscientific rumors. I do understand that no modern engine has composite gaskets anymore. Pretty much everybody uses MLS nowadays. Oh well... let's see.

Jeez, very interesting but how complicated and time consuming. I think I keep my full beard (like I did for the last 40 years or so) and just trim it to stubbles every 2 weeks or so. I know I am lazy.